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Friday, November 24, 2017

Start The Holidays and More Festive Goodies

Looking for a reason to see beautiful Stratford decked out for the holidays? The seventh annual St(art) the Holidays is coming up on December 9th & 10th at Factory 163, a 1903 furniture manufactory that has been renovated into artist studios and creative space. The show features locally crafted artwork and handmade gifts, all made by local Perth county artists. Hear live music by local musicians while enjoying the Revel caffe's direct trade coffee or sip some wine from the charity bar supporting PAL Stratford.

Most exciting of all is the fact that we will be there this year!

Hand embroidered ornaments - getting ready for the show!

Full disclosure - this is my first show and sale of this kind and I am having the time of my life. After a year of 'forced march to meet the deadline' kind of thinking, hand stitching these delicate little ornaments is playful. This is an opportunity to stretch some creative muscles that have been neglected.

Detail of untitled mandala in progress.

I am grateful to talented fibre artist, friend and mentor, Helen Benninger, for recommending St(art) The Holidays to me, for generously sharing her knowledge and pirate's trove of sumptuous materials, and also for drawing my attention back to mandalas. The mandala/snowflake overlap has got my brain's synapses firing so fast that my hands can't keep up.

We have also put together a new bird kit design in honour of winter. This is an easy way to try your hand at painting with beeswax and wool and is also a unique gift for the fibre enthusiasts in your life. The kits leave lots of room for your own creativity and include everything needed to create a little work of art. Can't make it to the sale to buy kits? Get in touch here.

Kit samples - Doug's inspired sample at top, mine at bottom.

Catching up on other news, the Woodstock Fleece Festival was one of the best events of this kind in which I have participated. The festival demonstrates all aspects of wool - from sheep to finished projects. We had a record turn out for the yarn painting workshop and marveled at the skill level of attendees.

Finally, the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga has extended my solo display, Following the Thread, until January. Woo hoo!

Blackwork mandala in progress on my messy table.

There's been a lot of talk about flow (or Flow or FLOW) around here lately. While I may not be able to define it, I can certainly recognize it as the hours fly by and I follow ideas that branch into other ideas that branch into yet others and I see that I could not possibly pursue them all in one lifetime.

But I can try.

Here's hoping you can find your own flow this winter and fill the chilly days with hot pursuits!